Improved folding bedstead



THOMAS `13'. HARKINsQoF BRISTOL. PE'NNsYLvANiA."

Lemsatmm. sooadazed May A11,1869. ,l l

mpnofvnn FoLnING B EDSTEAD.

The` Schedulereferred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

`description ofthesame'.

My invention consists of a bedstead in which both the side and 'end rails are made in two sections, hinged to eachother and to the bed-posts',- as fully'described hereafter, so that the bed, when. not required for' use,

or Ifor `convenience oftranSpOrtatiOn, can be folded compactly together. Y l o v My invention also'consists in a locking-device, vhereafter described, by which the rails can be rigidly secured to the posts, and prevented from turning on their hinges when the bedstead isunfolded. I 4 `In order to` enable others to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe the mode of constructing and using the saine, reference being had tothegaccompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which-J- g Figure 1 isa-` perspective view of my improved bedstead as it appears when extended and ready for use; Figure 2, the same, folded;

Fi ure 3; an' inverted perspective view of one corner of the bedstead, drawn to anenlarged scale; and

Figure 4, `a detached view, also enlarged. v ,Similar `letters refer to similar parts throughoutthe several views. l A i l f l The four posts, AfA A A, of thebedstead, are connectedtogether bythe side rails B and B' and end rails G and O', and to the posts at one end of the bedstead is hungrtheusual headboard D. y' At the opposite ends, and `on`the upper edges of the side rails Band-B', are hinges a, a, by means of which they are securedto the `bed-posts, and each of thesa'id rails ismade in twosections, d and d,4of equal length, connected together on theunder ,side by a hinge, e rlhis arrangement of hinges enables the side rails to be folded in such a manner that the posts to which they are connected can be brought into close proximity to each other. The end rails 'O and Gf are also made in` sections, and hinged in the same manner, so'that they can likewise be folded, and their posts brought close together.

In, order to prevent the. rails from folding in the centre when'the bedis required for use, I employ hooks f on the outside, land short bars h,.adapted to hooks 0r staples t, on the inside ofthe said rails.

It is also necessary that the rails should be rigidly iix'ed to the bed-posts, land prevented from turning upon their hinges a, for which purpose 4the lockingdevice, shown in figs. 3 and 4, is employed. This consistsof a movable button, 7c, attached to the post, and adapted to an inclined recess, @formed ina plate, m, which is secured to the nder side of the rail, the end of the button, when forced `into the inclined recess,

having a tendency to draw the rail and post tightly together. g y

`At'each end of each rail, there is also a projecting pin, r, tig. 3, adapted to a corresponding opening in theA adjacent post, this arrangement'preventing any lateral movement of the rails and consequent resisting ofthe hinges a.

The `pins, o, which extend around the bedstead, are adapted either for the reception of the` notched ends of the slats t or for the attachment of a suitable sacking bottom.

When not requiredfor use or for convenience of transportation, the bed can, after loosening the buttons k, 85e., be folded compactly together', as illustrated in g. 2, and, when thus folded,` movable arms i: if, which are attached to the-side rails, will serve` as braces for the support ofthe end rails C and C', enabling the who1e,`

if desired, to be lirmlybound together. o The slats t t t, &c., can be conveniently packed in the space within the folded bedstead. A

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent-f The combination of the posts .A A, the side and end pieces, consisting of two sections, each hinged together and to the posts, as described, and the buttons k, hung to the posts, and adaptedto` inclined recesses in the sections, all substantially as set forth. o

In testimony whereof', I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses e THOMAS B. HARKINS.

Witnesses :v I f JOHN WHITE f HARRY SMITH. 

